Shoe bottom



Feb. 20, 1951 sEMlNARA 2,542,292

SHOE BOTTOM Fild Oct. 4, 1950 INVENTOR. 4; M ROBERT SEMINARA Y ,7 r 20 B r,

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 20, 1951 SHOE BOTTOM Robert Seminara, New York, N. Y., assignor of fifty per cent to Edward W. White, Brooklyn,

Application October 4, 1950, Serial N 0. 188,287

4 Claims.

This invention relates to shoes and more particularly to an outer sole and heel lift arrangement therefor. The invention is particularly adaptable to womens shoes.

Insofar as I am aware, conventional shoes employ a flat, planar outer sole over the entire bottom of shoe and a heel or lift which is nailed or otherwise secured to the sole at the heel area. In the so-called wedgy type of shoe, the outer sole generally extends flatly across the bottom surface of the heel. In any case, a heel lift is generally included, such a lift being of tough material and replaceable, and its function being to present the heel portion of the shoe with a neat appearance, protect the heel and, generally raise it to a slight extent.

According to the present invention, I provide an outer sole which does not extend completely across the shoe bottom but terminates approximately at the lift area as will hereinafter appear. The lift is arranged to be a longitudinal continuation of the outer sole and is connected thereto by a dove-tail joint. The lift is thicker, and therefore is higher than the sole, and the additional thickness thereof is arranged to lap over the sole. This offers considerable advantages. For example, the sole inner edge is thus restrained against separation from the shoe bottom and a neat arrangement further results therefrom.

The invention also effects a saving in outer sole material and provides important labor saving advantages as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The invention will be further understood from the following description and drawings in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view, partly broken away, of a shoe provided with an outer sole and heel lift according to the instant invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the inner end of the outer sole and the heel lift therefor.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view as taken along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view as taken along the lines 5& of Fig. 2.

In the form shown, the shoe body l8 includes a tapering heel portion H, popularly known as a wedgy heel. In this type of shoe, the outer sole generally extends completely across the shoe bottom, and a heel lift may be nailed or tacked thereover. According to the instant invention, however, the outer sole [2 is secured as by adhesive I3 up to approximately the center line M of the heel portion ll.

, Outer sole I2, in the particular form shown, comprises an outer layer l5 of leather or simulated leather and a top layer l6 which may be of composition or any other suitable material. However, it may be a one-piece structure as well, aswill hereinafter be made clear. Outer sole l2 is terminated at its inner end with a projecting triangular or dove-tail joint l1.

Heel lift l8 may be fabricated of a tough rubber or leather like material. It is shaped in conformity with the bottom of the heel portion II and it is formed with a dove-tail cut-out 19 complementary to the dove-tail projection I1. Thus, the projection I1 is adapted to be pressed into cut-out l9 and effects a firm, frictional firm engagement between the outer sole and heel lift l8.

As will be observed in the drawing, heel lift l 8 is thicker than outer sole I2. It is also formed with a flange 20 which is adapted to overlap or embrace the adjacent inner edge portions of the outer sole l2. Thus, when projection I 7 is pressed into cut-out I9, the flanges 2i) automatically overlap the bottom edge of the outer sole, such an arrangement resulting in the heel lift extending lower than the outer sole, such as a heel lift should. It will be understood that the increase of thickness of the heel lift [8 relative to the outer sole I2 is represented by the thickness of flange 20, since the outer sole l2, when overlapped by flange 20, has its upper surface in alignment with the upper surface of the heel lift as illustrated in Fig. 1.

In employing the instant invention, the operator may first press the outer sole and heel lift into position. Then, with the flanged side of the heel lift lowermost, he may apply a suitable adhesive to the upper surface of the layer l6 as well as over the upper surface of the heel lift. The composite outer sole and heel lift are then applied to the bottom of the shoe where it may be allowed to set. Generally, no other securing means will be required although the invention does not exclude any such other securing or connecting means.

When the heel lift is applied as hereinabove described, it not only effects a saving of 'both materials and labor, but it protects the inner edge of the outer sole from dsengagement from the shoe bottom. The heel lift is further quite easily replaceable since it may be torn off the shoe bottom when no longer usable, and a replacement heel lift may be glued and pressed into place, using the dove-tail joint as additional securing means.

What is claimed is:

1. For use with a shoe body, the sub-combina tion of a fiat planar sole and heel lift therefor, said sole and heel being adapted for substantial alignment along the bottom of the shoe body and having complementary, interfitting end connections, said end connections comprising a diverging projection on said sole and an opening formed through said lift for receiving and engaging said projection, said lift being thicker than said sole and extending below the plane thereof.

2. For use with a shoe body and outer sole therefor, the sub-combination of a heel lift, said heel lift having a lower flange extending forwardly from its breast and being formed with an opening therethrough for receiving and frictionally engaging a connecting member.

3. For use with a shoe body and outer sole therefor, the sub-combination of a heel lift, said heel lift having an opening formed therethrough along and central of its forward edge and a pair of spaced flange sections respectively formed on The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

, UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 142,203 Bray Aug. 26, 1873 1,115,038, Tweedie Oct. 27, 1914 1,158,053 Hutchinson Oct. 26, 1915 1,253,278 Puckett et al. Jan. 15, 1918 1,396 801 Winkley Nov. 15, 1921 1,436,093 Heys Nov. 21, 1922' 1,681,211 Barclay Aug. 21,1928 1,857,475 Quirk May 10, 1932 2,025,704 Barclay et al Dec. 31, 1935 2,198,338 Greider Apr. 23, 1940 2,299 840 Merritt Oct. 27, 1942 2,345,551 Audino Apr. 4, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 162,192 Great Britain Apr. 28, 1921 244,530 Great Britain Dec. 21, 1925, 387,219 Great Britain Feb. 2 1933 

